The Government of Haryana has issued a transfer order of 1991 batch senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka, who is currently serving as Principal Secretary Archives, Archaeology and Museums Department, has been transferred as Principal Secretary, Haryana Science and Technology Department. He has also been assigned to look after the Fisheries Department. This is the 54th transfer in his 29-year long career in the civil services.
The government has not cited any reason behind his transfer but it is observed that Khemka has been actively raising his point of view on important issues especially related to protection of hilly areas in Faridabad district, Damdama, Dhauj, Kot, Dhauj, and Nurpur Dhumsapur district, and Harchanpur district.
He stated that, “If hills, forests, areas under Aravalli plantations and areas notified under section 4,5 of the PLPA Act in the above revenue estates are not allowed to be included in the notification under section 4, then private commercial/ mining interests will trump over the large public interest to protect the natural environment of the pre-historic site and rock shelters. commercial interests will ultimately destroy the Aravallis and the National Capital Region.”
He also urged that mining operations be prohibited in Aravalli gair mumkin pahar (uncultivable hilly areas), a hill area that includes the 8 revenue estates in the Regional Plan 2041 to preserve archaeological heritage and ecological safety.
